NYPD 33rd Precinct

I had to get some fingerprint cards filled out for a background check for a job. I went later that day; they told me the person who does fingerprints wasn’t there. There was absolutely nothing going on, from what I could see. I doubt the person wasn’t there.
I came back the next day during the time they said the person would be there. Again, nothing going on. I waited about 20 minutes for someone to come down and do something that took about 5 min.
I will say, people were helpful when I came in and asked me what I needed, and they did call the person who did the fingerprint cards within 5 – 10 minutes of me arriving.
I’ll give NYPD the benefit of the doubt and assume there was more going on behind closed doors than I could see; otherwise, I would have to say things looked and operated needlessly slow.

I was a Washington Heights (east of Broadway) resident when the 33^rd Precinct opened. Every single time that I needed assistance from the officers of this stationhouse, I received it, expeditiously and pleasantly. I’d always felt reassured whenever I’d seen these officers. As a disabled woman of color, I appreciated their presence and protection– something that I have learned, over the past couple of years, is not always available to us. I moved to the southwest Bronx four years ago; I’m very aware of the changes in my former neighborhood. Have the officers of this precinct become less concerned with residents who live east of Broadway? I sincerely hope not.

Need to check out other Unilocalers’ reviews. Not really sure what their doing throughout the community but there seems to be what looks like a crack den down the block.
I saw a couple of young kids who looked like drug dealers just hanging outside their building smoke some good weed. I really think that if you want to sell the stuff then get connected with the movement and do it on the up and up. I don’t think any upstanding person really wants to see a small group of near adolescents high hanging out on the street giving people strange looks.
I for one don’t mind west of Broadway but I make sure to stay away Amsterdam. Just seems so sketchy over there.

I live directly above a deli that plays loud music at all hours of the day. Sometimes it’s so loud that it makes my bedroom floor shake. I’ve filed noise complaints with 311 more times than I can remember and I usually get back an email that says no violation was noticed at the time of arrival. Of course I know this is absolutely impossible because the music never stops. I’d rather get an email back telling me to buzz off than to be blatantly lied to. There’s just no way someone with working ears could not hear the music if they were actually at the scene.

I lived west of broadway up in the heights and had more than one instance where i called the police and they arrived immediately or dealt with noisy neighbors quickly. My mother has always lived east of broadway (the less desirable side) and she always complained about the police’s lack of response/​attention/​promptness, etc. i would always insist she was wrong, until I’ve started calling the precinct on her behalf. Sad to say, not ONE time has the precinct sent an officer. Not ONCE! Ive called on her behalf for loud neighbors, domestic disputes in the building, pot smoking in the lobby, etc. i find it amazing that the more affluent side of washington heights is taken more seriously. I guess racial profiling has many forms.

So, I had another exchange with the officers at the 33^rd. I took my pit/​Bullmastiff to a site of loud music (the only reason I call and am often ignored) and the very kind officers (gently) chastised me for going to the scene with an «intimidating» dog prior to their arrival. We had a convivial exchange that their
’arrival” could be 30 seconds to 8 hours; hence why I felt the need to be pro active. I explained to them the aspect of babies/​toddlers in very scary scenarios and they seemed to relate yet were persistent in saying my community involvement was complicating and possibly intimidating. I didn’t bother to voice that I am 5’1 and 115 lbs and the «party» included quite dramatic characters who threatened to shoot my dog. However, may I praise myself/​my dog for staying until reality kicked in? I think the renter nearly sh$t his pants upon seeing my 100 lb dog at his doorstep. We had a standoff until the police arrived and I left (back to being chastised) and the music stopped. I’m «upping» my stars because the police officer seemed to genuinely want attendance at the Community Affairs Meeting. I will attend the next one and hope we can build a better relationship. Just as an FYI: I never call 311 or 911 over pot or drugs. All I want is a civil weekend. I believe you can have fun and notkeep your neighbors up ’till 5 am.

I totally disagree with you guys but every and any incident I have ever had which I’ve reported, the police officers of 33^rd have always done their job as expected of an officer. It’s unfortunate that so many people in the neighborhood detest and berate these men and women in uniform. Trust me I live one block from the precinct and I see all sorts of drug dealing, muggings, thefts and assaults and unfortunately it’s a thankless job what these officers do to restore order and preserve safety in the neighborhood. It’s so easy to put blame to the police – but living here in Washington Heights, seeing how people live and treat the neighborhood let alone the buildings they occupy is disgusting! Call me racist, but I’m not I’m being prejudiced and there is a difference, but the neighborhood is predominantly Latino and a majority of the crime inflicted in this neighborhood is by young Latino men. As an example, the other night, cops were dispatched to an assault taking place outside an apartment complex just feet away from my apartment, a group of about 15 guys were kicking and beating another young man while he was already on the ground and when the police came to assist, someone from the apartment above, were throwing bottles at their cars and actually hit a couple of the officers – all the while other spectators were urging other people to beat and kill the officers. Hmmmm… and this is suppose to be acceptable? I’ve been to Puerto Rico for a vacation and it’s unfortunate how some areas of Puerto Rico is riddled with litter on the streets, people throwing their garbage everywhere without any care – and if you walk down the streets of Audubon, especially Aududon you will see garbage strewn along the sidewalk and even around the annoying FRITURAS Y CHIMI food truck on W 170^th – this food truck attracts late night revelers and park their cars all around the truck, music blaring, people shouting and fighting, and it’s parked at a NO PARKING zone – and it’s parked in front of a park, where every morning, the NYC PARKS AND RECREATION workers, come and clean the food containers, beer bottles and even shit, yes, you read correctly, human feces, because when the customers finish eating they have to use the bathroom, I’ve seen it from my bedroom window, because I can’t sleep at nights with the noise. NOW, when the I call the cops to assist in silencing the noise, I’m taking them away from more important things – so understand that those of you who are not happy with the NYPD, look around and see who the real culprits are. It’s funny, but it’s the same people that complain about the police and then when all hell breaks loose, who do they call and beg for help – the police. OH and one last thing, I am all about STOP AND FRISK, why? Because if you have nothing to conceal, why be worried, its not just for you but it’s for the safety of others around you. Again, I’ve seen where police stopped a group of you guessed, Latinos, and sure enough they had more arsenal on them than the 4 officers that stopped them and these guys were no older than 18! AND in case you’re wondering, I’m not white and I’m not racist but I am prejudiced. And if you’re not certain of the difference, look it up. I support the NYPD!

The main problem with this particular Washington Heights Precinct living in area, most of the people have lived there forever and have experienced bad treatment from the police. The police working there are now so mean and bitter to EVERYONE because they expect everyone to be rude to them and uneducated. Unfortunately, things are changing in the area in terms of gentrification. People are moving in and buying property and demanding better service from our local police and the police are not responding accordingly. If you call with a noise complaint on any given night. The police never respond. If the police approach you anywhere they just expect you to be up to no good and a criminal. The 33^rd precinct needs to step there game up and make some changes or the new heights will swallow them up, report them to the mayor, call the civilian complaint review board, complain to the deputy inspector and make the change for them. Shame on them!

I have never had a problem with any information I have asked them for. Whenever there may be a problem or concern, I have always gotten good guidance from them on what to do and I have gotten it in a courteous, professional manner.

WOW! I tell ya, for the 3 police officers that have answered the precinct and were polite there were like 6 that were rude, condescending, cynical and not helpful at all in making a local resident feel safe. Boy, I’ll take a small town PD any day over the NYPD, They SUCK!